The wildfires ravaging Syria’s Mediterranean coast have left a trail of destruction, displacing thousands and consuming over 14,000 hectares of land. The blazes, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, have posed significant challenges to firefighting teams, who are battling to contain the inferno amidst steep terrain and unexploded ordnance.
Abu Jameel Muhammed, an 80-year-old Syrian elder, lost his beloved olive tree and home to the fires. “Villagers rescued me as flames approached my home … I survived, but my only daughter on this land was consumed by fire. It was the last thing left for me here,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion. The elderly man’s story is just one of many, as the wildfires have affected over 1,900 families and forced thousands to seek shelter elsewhere.
The Syrian government has launched a massive response effort, with the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management working tirelessly to combat the fires. Minister Raed al-Saleh described the scale of damage to Syria’s forests as “heart-wrenching” and highlighted the challenges posed by intense winds and buried landmines. “During my field visits, I saw tremendous efforts to save Syria’s forests. Yet challenges grow with intense winds and buried landmines,” he stated.
The international community has rallied to support Syria, with Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon providing aircraft and personnel to aid in firefighting efforts. The European Union has activated its Copernicus rapid mapping service to help assess damage and identify fire hotspots. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the fires have destroyed over 100 square kilometers of forest, or more than 3% of Syria’s total forest cover.
Civil Defense volunteer Muhammed Baradei, 32, emerged from a cordoned-off area in Qastal Maaf, exhausted but determined. “I cancelled my leave when fires started near Latakia. I came from Idlib province to help,” he said, describing the 100km journey that would have been unthinkable during Syria’s civil war. “We faced unexploded ordnance from past conflicts, steep terrain, and shifting winds. Crews from multiple provinces contained many hot spots, but new fires kept igniting.”
The change in Syria’s political landscape has fundamentally altered the firefighting response, according to volunteers and officials. “Before the Assad regime was toppled, we couldn’t visit these forests. We didn’t care that much when we saw similar news of fires in past summers,” Baradei explained. “But now the situation is different. We are here and we have to do something.” The newfound unity has mobilized firefighting teams from across Syria’s Civil Defense and Forestry Department, with Syrian, Turkish, Jordanian, and Lebanese aircraft providing aerial support for containment operations.
As the situation continues to unfold, the humanitarian impact of the wildfires remains a pressing concern. The UN has allocated $625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund for emergency wildfire response in Latakia, which will help partners like the Syrian Arab Red Crescent deliver urgent assistance to those displaced. With the region still grappling with the aftermath of the civil war, the international community’s support will be crucial in alleviating the humanitarian crisis and rebuilding affected areas.